New York, NY - Jay Alan Sekulow, PhD, JD, Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice and the European Centre for Law and Justice, will receive this year's Athenagoras Human Rights Award presented by the Order of Saint Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, at the organization's annual banquet Saturday, Oct. 18, at the New York Hilton Hotel in New York City.

Through both the American Center for Law and Justice as well as the European Centre for Law and Justice, Jay Alan Sekulow, PhD, JD, has been in the forefront in the battle for religious rights and liberties both in this country and abroad. For many years and on innumerable occasions, he has supported and championed the cause of the Orthodox Christian world by his endeavors on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Dr. Sekulow spoke at the Second Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom that took place in Berlin last December. He is a courageous and indeed fearless spokesman on behalf of the Judaeo-Christian values that form the bedrock of American society and that are now so virulently under attack.

Past recipients of the award have included Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush, Mother Teresa, Elie Wiesel and Mikhail Gorbachev.

The Award is named in memory of Ecumenical Patriarchate Athenagoras, who served in that capacity from 1948 until his death in 1972. Prior to his selection as Ecumenical Patriarch, Athenagoras served as Archbishop of North and South America.

Established in 1986, the Athenagoras Human Rights Award is presented annually at the Order of Saint Andrew's grand banquet to a person or organization, which has consistently exemplified by action, purpose and dedication concern for the basic rights and religious freedom of all people. Visit archons.org/AthenagorasAward

Rooms are available at the New York Hilton (1335 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10019) from Oct. 15–19 at a special price of $389 per night. Call 1-800-HILTONS and use code: OSA